Balogun: Trump call to FIFA over red card created distraction before US World Cup loss

The controversy surrounding the suspended ban of US professional Folarin Balogun (25) at the World Cup has taken a new turn, with the striker breaking his silence in a television interview.

On Tuesday, Balogun appeared as a guest on the show CBS Mornings, where he acknowledged that FIFA's contentious decision to suspend his ban—following a red card—had an impact on the US national team ahead of their match against Belgium.

Background of the Scandal

Balogun received a red card in the round of 32 against Bosnia-Herzegovina after a foul, which would normally have resulted in a suspension for at least the next match. However, it later emerged that US President Donald Trump (80) had urged FIFA President Gianni Infantino (56) to review the red card.

Less than 24 hours before the game, the striker's ban was suspended—a decision that sparked sharp criticism worldwide. The US team, with Balogun in the lineup, was subsequently eliminated from the World Cup following a 1–4 defeat against Belgium.

"A Unique Situation"

Speaking on CBS Mornings, Balogun described his reaction to the decision:

"My first reaction was that I was happy to be back with the team. But when I thought about it, I knew this would cause a lot of controversy."

He added:

"And I could almost sense a bit of nervousness among my teammates because this is such a unique situation. But as the game got closer, I tried to focus as much as possible, but it was difficult – there was a lot of external noise, and it's hard to ignore."

White House Official Acknowledges Possible Distraction

Balogun's comments come days after Andrew Giuliani, director of the White House World Cup task force, admitted that the red card scandal may have affected the US players. Giuliani stated that he "stands behind" the decision to intervene, explaining that given the large sums the US spent on the tournament, they wanted to ensure it was "conducted fairly on the field."

When asked by the Daily Mail whether the controversy might have distracted coach Mauricio Pochettino's team, Giuliani replied:

"Possibly."

He continued:

"I'm not a sports psychiatrist, so it's hard for me to assess that. But I'm proud of this team, which showed its great character even at its lowest points, and that's what I've focused on."